Czech military sources, cited by the Czech daily Hospodářské noviny (HN), said that Prague transferred the last of its T-72M1/M4 tanks to Ukraine in March and early April. This was part of Czechia’s multi-year drive to replace much of its Soviet-era hardware with more modern Western equipment.
In doing so it was able to support Ukraine’s armed forces in the war that was instigated by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
A source from Czechia’s 7th Armored Brigade said its 73rd Battalion had been equipped with upgraded T-72M4CZ tanks that relatively quickly began to wear out and were replaced in 2020 by unmodified T72M1’s straight out of “mothballs.”
The source said: “When they pulled them out, we were quite amazed. They were older, but everything worked on them.” He then added, in apparent confirmation of the Ukrainian deliveries, “I can now say that there is not a single T-72M1 left at the base.”
No one is quite sure about the final disposition of the 30 unserviceable T-72M4CZ tanks that were replaced five years ago.
Following a meeting with the then US President Joe Biden and NATO’s “Bucharest Nine” in Warsaw on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala pledged to provide all of its tanks as well as more than 220 armored vehicles and almost 40 howitzers.
Ukrainian Forces Strike Key Railway Bridge in Occupied Luhansk Region
He said that Czechia had been one of the first to react to Russian aggression, saying Prague had organized the first deliveries of military aid “14 days after the start of the invasion, and by doing so, we showed others that it is possible and that it is the right path.”
He estimated in 2023 that Czechia had provided at least 40 billion Koruna ($1.76 billion) in military aid to Ukraine.
In addition to this support, Prague was also the lead voice in the 18-nation “Ammunition Coalition” which has been sourcing artillery ammunition, particularly 155mm rounds, from around the world for delivery to Ukraine.
It is also partnering with Kyiv to provide a surveillance satellite constellation centered over central Europe to enhance their security and that of their allies.
Having denuded its stocks of T-72 tanks, Czechia’s 73rd Battalion has currently only received around 15 “second-hand” Leopards 2A4s, with more promised over the next 18 months. Its troops complain that some of these are in poor condition and require maintenance and upgrades to bring them up to operational standard.
These 2A4s are also a “stop-gap” as Prague is in the process of carrying out a long-term acquisition of 77 more modern Leopard 2A8s. A similar modernization process is underway to replace the other armored vehicles Prague has donated to Ukraine.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
